During the prosperous days of the Han and Tang Dynasties, envoys reached all nations, and no one was afraid of the sword.
Poets and talented men all took pride in serving their country with swords and guarding the frontiers.
That is the true vitality, with all things competing to flourish... Looking back at today's Ming Dynasty, although the emperor is ambitious and aims at thousands of miles, he is hampered by constraints everywhere, making it difficult to take a step forward.
"Li Jinglong, you said that if during the Han and Tang Dynasties, I heard that I could go north to serve the country and serve as an official, would there be any scholar who would refuse?" Zhu Di said slowly.
Li Jinglong was suddenly shocked, and even a fool could understand that Zhu Di hated the current literati, was greedy for pleasure, and was unwilling to serve the country.
Li Jinglong paused and said: "Your Majesty, I only know that the literati of the Han and Tang Dynasties rushed to serve the country, defended the borders, sacrificed their lives for the country, and never regretted it. Today's world is full of extravagance and enjoyment. From this point of view, Neo-Confucianism
Misfortune, misfortune is endless!"
Zhu Di said solemnly, "Well said! Very knowledgeable!"
The emperor repeatedly praised and said happily: "Fortunately, there are warriors like you who can share your worries and solve the country's difficulties."
Zhu Di took the initiative to pick up Li Jinglong. After so many years, you look a bit handsome today!
"I will now add the title of Taibao to the Crown Prince and accept the title of Minister of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In addition, I will allocate one hundred warships and five thousand soldiers to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry."
Li Jinglong was shocked. He was a little confused, "Your Majesty, since it is the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, it should be organized according to the six departments of the imperial court. How to arrange soldiers and ships for ministers?"
Zhu Di laughed loudly, "If I don't give you soldiers and let you explore trade routes, won't I let you die?"
Li Jinglong smiled naively and said: "I understand, but I still don't quite understand. Are these soldiers and horses considered the Ministry of War or the Governor's Mansion of the Fifth Army?"
Zhu Di hummed: "None of them. For the time being, move it to the North Parallel Department. When you have made great achievements, I will add an extra one to the six departments and let you have the final say!"
Li Jinglong was shocked and said hurriedly: "The six tribes have been followed since ancient times. How can I be so virtuous and capable as to make your majesty make an exception for me?" Li Jinglong was panic-stricken.
Zhu Di smiled and said: "What are you afraid of? As long as you are loyal to the country, you will be worthy of it! I want to show those people what a loyal minister and good general are!"
Zhu Di patted Li Jinglong on the shoulder and said with emotion: "Don't worry, I'm waiting to celebrate your success!"
After coming out of Prince Yan's Mansion, Li Jinglong didn't know which leg to take.
He was absolutely sure that with his hard work in the past few years, he had gradually washed away his bad reputation during the Jingnan period, and he had also regained Zhu Di's trust.
As long as he can make a great contribution this time, his future will be worry-free, and he will finally be worthy of his dead father.
Li Jinglong really wanted to cry. It is really not easy to reach middle age.
At this time, it is best to have someone who can share the joy with you...who should you go to?
“Dong Guo Gong, let me toast you!”
Li Jinglong personally poured wine for Xu Jingchang, showing special respect.
"Whether it's building the Heroes' Shrine in Peiping, dealing with the Three Duoyan Guards, or finding trade routes this time, it's all because of Duke Ding's favor. I'm afraid Li will never be able to live up to your kindness in this life. Again, from now on.
From now on, I, Li Jinglong, will obey your orders. Apart from Your Majesty, you are the one who will be the Duke of Dingguo."
This guy just bowed his head and called me big brother.
Xu Jingchang didn't care so much, "When the opportunity comes, you must seize it. Duke Qi didn't come to build the Martyrs' Shrine. This time, Duke Cheng didn't come forward to find trade routes. So you don't need to thank me, everything will be fine."
It depends on your own efforts."
Li Jinglong paused and said hurriedly: "Ding Guogong still thinks highly of me. I have thought about it this time. I will not be afraid of hardships. I will lead the troops and fight all the way. I must penetrate Liaodong and find out where the gold mines are.
Increase the prestige of the imperial court. Let everyone in the world see that I, Li Jinglong, can compare to a man like Zhang Qian..."
When this person got to the point where he was happy, he could not help but wave his fists with excitement and momentum.
Xu Jingchang kept frowning, he was afraid of this!
"I said Mr. Cao Guo, what are you going to do?"
Li Jinglong said: "It goes without saying that I will naturally fight him!"
"Then you're not afraid of getting damaged along the way?"
Li Jinglong frowned and said, "Could it be that Duke Ding is looking down on me so much? It's just an accident. I've already checked. They are still using arrows made of bones. What's there to be afraid of?"
When Xu Jingchang heard this, he shook his head even more, and couldn't help but said sternly: "Mr. Cao Guo, if you think so, your trip will be unlucky, and you may end up dying in a foreign land."
Hearing that Xu Jingchang was so harsh, Li Jinglong couldn't help but cheer up. He hesitated and said: "Dong Guo, I really don't understand, why do you say that?"
Xu Jingchang said: "If you think that with sharp weapons and strong armor, you can run rampant and be invincible, then you have committed a big taboo...Liaodong is a vast land with few people. Among the Jurchen tribes, there are tens of thousands in number and only a few in number.
There are hundreds of people, they are scattered and do not belong to each other. If you lead the troops over, are you going to fight them one by one?"
Li Jinglong paused for a moment and couldn't help but shook his head and said: "Of course this won't work. We can't accomplish all our efforts in one battle. If it goes on for a long time, the troops and horses will be exhausted, there will be insufficient food and grass, and morale will be low. We will definitely lose."
Xu Jingchang nodded, which was why he opposed a large-scale attack on Annan.
The principle is the same. You think that by moving your troops and horses over, destroying the enemy forces three times, five times and five times, and eliminating two, you will be able to pacify the place... In fact, you may not even know where the enemy troops are or who the real enemy is.
The so-called Imperial Cemetery is not about how powerful this place is, on the contrary, because it is backward and scattered, and no one can have the final say... When the army passed by, they could not find the exact enemy at all, or it could be said that there were enemies everywhere.
You can win every battle, but long-term delays and constant consumption will make you lose the entire war.
"Mr. Cao Guo, the purpose of your visit this time is not to fight or kill, but to be acquainted with the world and to make friends. Do you understand?"
Li Jinglong thought for a moment and nodded hurriedly, "Thank you Duke Ding for your suggestion. I understand."
Xu Jingchang added: "It's not enough to just understand. You have to keep it in your heart and not be negligent in the slightest."
After a pause, Xu Jingchang said: "Well, let me ask you, in the first year of Yongle, the imperial court appointed Aha Chu as the commander of the Jianzhou Guard. How should you deal with Aha Chu when you enter Liaodong this time?"
Li Jinglong thought for a while and then said: "Since he has accepted the reward from the Ming Dynasty, he is a minister of the Ming Dynasty. When I go over, he should help me open up trade routes. I promise not to disturb the people as much as possible."
Xu Jingchang shook his head repeatedly, "If you think so, it's over."
Li Jinglong couldn't help but leaned forward and asked for advice: "Dong Guo Gong, what should we do?"
Xu Jingchang said: "You must first understand one thing. Although the Jurchens have accepted the reward, they are not serious court officials after all. If you lead troops there, they will only worry about robbing their territory. The Jianzhou Jurchens colluded.
It is also possible for others to betray information and keep you in Liaodong."
Li Jinglong felt a chill all over his body. He suddenly realized something and his hair stood up involuntarily.
"Mr. Dingguo, I'm afraid I will be surrounded by enemies when I go here, and I will be exhausted running for my life!"
Xu Jingchang nodded, "It's good to understand this. But you don't have to worry too much. The key is to have the right ideas and prescribe the right medicine."
Li Jinglong was even more respectful, "Please give me some advice from Duke Ding."
Xu Jingchang smiled and said a few words to Li Jinglong, who nodded repeatedly, understanding.
It has to be said that Xu Jingchang is full of bad ideas.
Three days later, Li Jinglong officially went on a mission... After Xu Jingchang's reminder, he did not lead too many people this time, just 800 elites.
In addition, he carried a full fifty cartloads of gifts, and then headed towards Liaodong in a mighty manner.
Just as Li Jinglong set off, Zhu Di sent a bamboo stick.
This thing also has a name, it’s called Festival!
When Su Wu was shepherding sheep, he held the staff in his hand.
Today's envoys of the Ming Dynasty must also follow the example of their predecessors in the Han and Tang Dynasties and embark on the path of pioneering.
"Majestic, magnificent!"
Zhu Gaosui was very excited. He was unceremonious and publicized it in the Di newspaper.
Mere literati, if you are asked to come to Peiping to do work, you will resist. You also want to look at other military officers, and you will not hesitate to go to the land of Liaodong to explore the wilderness.
We are both human beings, but the gap is so huge!
Zhu Gaosui spared no effort, but obviously everyone knew that if Li Jinglong achieved nothing, it would only be a little heroic and it wouldn't matter.
But these people ignored that Li Jinglong learned the secret from Xu Jingchang.
He arrived in Shenyang from the Liaoxi Corridor, and then met Aha Chu, the commander of the Jianzhou Guards... They only talked once, put their arms around each other, and wanted to make a blood alliance and worship them as brothers.
Li Jinglong hesitated for a moment, but agreed. Then he hurriedly wrote a letter to Zhu Di explaining the situation. It was not easy to gain trust. If he hesitated, all his efforts might be wasted.
Zhu Di received the petition and read it carefully. There was nothing wrong with Li Jinglong's handling.
If you reward him with a scepter, you will let him make arbitrary decisions when the opportunity arises.
But Li Jinglong mentioned one thing, which made Zhu Di frown.
"Go and call Xu Jingchang!"
Not long after, Xu Jingchang hurried over and asked, "What orders does your Majesty have?"
"I ask you, was it your idea to let Cao Guogong incite the Jurchens to march to the east?" Zhu Di said fiercely: "Xu Jingchang, how could you not tell me in advance about such a major military and national event?"
Xu Jingchang noticed that Zhu Di's eyes were already gleaming. He was anxious and angry... Who would want to be bored here if he could fight?
However, Xu Jingchang quickly persuaded, "Your Majesty, this is not a big deal. It's just that after the establishment of the Li Dynasty, it continued to expand its territory to the north and occupied a lot of land belonging to Liaodong."
Zhu Di said angrily: "Since it has invaded our territory, why not send troops to attack it?"
Xu Jingchang said: "Your Majesty, if you send troops there, they will definitely pass through the territory of the Jurchen tribes, and there will inevitably be no misunderstandings. It is better to drive the tigers and devour the wolves, support the Jurchen tribes to send troops to the east, and let us sit back and enjoy the results."
Zhu Di finally saw through it, but Xu Jingchang refused to give him a chance to send troops.
"Just watch, if things don't go smoothly for Duke Cao Guo, I will definitely take action myself, and no one can stop him!"
Just five days after Zhu Di said his words, Shenyang sent good news... Li Jinglong won!
